Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu Set for Unsanctioned Match at WrestleMania 42
The March 27 episode of WWE SmackDown didn’t just add fuel to an already volatile rivalry between Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu. It is officially locked in a collision course for WrestleMania 42. Nevertheless, the full weight of what’s coming wasn’t immediately clear.
What started as another heated exchange quickly turned into something far more dangerous — and far less controlled.
Jacob Fatu opened the segment, battered but unbroken. Limping to the ring, he blamed Drew McIntyre for weeks of escalating violence — from brutal strikes to near career-ending moments. His message was simple: no matter what McIntyre threw at him, he’s still standing.
McIntyre, however, flipped the narrative. He dismissed Fatu’s claims and argued that he was the one wronged, accusing Fatu of costing him everything — including his championship and WrestleMania spotlight. If words were weapons, both men were already in a no-holds-barred fight before the bell ever rang.
The confrontation threatened to boil over until Nick Aldis stepped in to lay down the law — or, in this case, remove it entirely.
Aldis confirmed that McIntyre and Fatu will meet at WrestleMania 42 on April 18, but with a stipulation that speaks volumes about how far things have gone. The match will be unsanctioned — no disqualifications, no countouts, and minimal oversight.
The rivalry has already crossed multiple lines in recent weeks, including wild brawls and high-risk confrontations that left both men worse for wear. Now, WWE has effectively taken its hands off the wheel — and told them to settle it their way.
For WrestleMania, that means one thing: expect fewer wrestling rules and more survival instincts. When the referee’s just there to count three, it’s not about wins and losses — it’s about who’s left standing when the dust settles.
